Greg Lowe of Solvay sat two booths away from Jimenez in Stella's. He said he voted for McCain, but found things he liked about both candidates.

"I liked the energy policy of John McCain, but I believe the health care system needs a lot of work. I think Obama and the Democrats will do more to solve that," Lowe said, as he sipped a cup of coffee. "I needed a mix of the two, but I do feel both candidates represented integrity, and both were committed to their beliefs," Lowe said.

Matty Case of Syracuse said he felt "nauseous" about the outcome of yesterday's election.

"I voted for Ralph Nader," said Case, a union ironworker, as he drank coffee at the counter of Doc's Little Gem Diner on Spencer Street in Syracuse. "I work hard to get ahead. Republicans weren't gonna help us. Democrats weren't gonna help us."

Case said he might have voted for Obama had Obama spent a few more years in the Senate.

George Girod's brother is serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. Girod voted for McCain because he feared what would happen to his brother's military job if Obama took over as commander in chief.

Girod's wife Trudy, who sat across the table from him in Doc's, cast her vote for Obama and is "very pleased" with last night's outcome.

"He's a fresh face, he's young. I think he's gonna bring new ideas, and he's not Bush," she said.

Although the Girods said they have always disagreed on politics, they both hope Obama's presidency will usher in an era of bipartisanship in Washington.

"I'm tired of opposition in Congress," George Girod said. "I don't care if you're Republican or Democrat, just work together."